In an unexpected twist where art imitates life, the Vatican’s College of Cardinals is reportedly turning to cinema for spiritual—and procedural—inspiration. The 2024 film Conclave, a political thriller about the election of a new pope, has become an unlikely but popular viewing among cardinals preparing for the real-life conclave to choose the next head of the Catholic Church.
🎬 From Script to Sanctuary
Directed by Oscar nominee Edward Berger and based on the best-selling novel by Robert Harris, Conclave dives deep into the secretive, sacred process of selecting a new pope. The film stars Ralph Fiennes as a cardinal who uncovers explosive secrets during the papal election. Though fictionalized, Conclave meticulously reconstructs the cloistered rituals and power plays that shape one of the world’s most mysterious decision-making processes.
Now, with a significant number of cardinals appointed by Pope Francis in recent years—many of whom have never participated in a conclave—the movie is being viewed as a primer on the do’s and don’ts of papal election protocol.
🧠 Why They’re Watching
While the Vatican has centuries of tradition and strict rules surrounding the conclave, the intricacies of the process can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers. Watching Conclave provides cardinals with a crash course—not just on logistics, but on the high-stakes tension and moral weight that accompany the responsibility of electing a spiritual leader for over a billion Catholics worldwide.
Sources close to the Vatican told Politico that several cardinals saw the film as both entertaining and surprisingly educational. “It’s not a how-to manual, but it gets the atmosphere right,” one insider reportedly said. “It’s intense, just like the real thing.”
🎭 What the Film Gets Right—and Wrong
Experts note that Conclave does take creative liberties. It dramatizes internal debates, exaggerates conflicts, and adds fictional scandals for cinematic flair. Still, its portrayal of procedures—the locking in of cardinals, the black and white smoke, the ballots—is largely accurate.
Sky News even ran a breakdown of what Conclave gets right and wrong, acknowledging that while it’s not perfect, the film does a remarkable job of capturing the sacred tension of the event.
⛪ A Modern Church Embracing Modern Tools?
The fact that cardinals are watching a film to prepare for one of the Church’s most sacred duties speaks volumes about the evolving nature of the Vatican in the 21st century. It shows a willingness to embrace modern storytelling as a means of reflection—even instruction.
In a time when the world is increasingly visual and digital, maybe it’s not so strange that even the most traditional institutions are taking cues from the silver screen.
Final Take
As the Catholic Church prepares for its next major transition, one thing is clear: the line between spiritual duty and cinematic storytelling has never been thinner. Whether Conclave is seen as a prophetic piece or simply a suspenseful drama, its influence is already being felt in the most sacred halls of power.
